Centralia BPW Woman of the Year

On Sunday, October 20 the Centralia Business and Professional Women’s Club named the 2013 Woman of the Year.

A woman who has given back to her community in so many ways, Elisha Monken received the prestigious award. Some of Elisha’s contributions are: Centralia Balloon Fest Steering Committee four years; chaired the Balloon Fest Kick Off Fundraiser two years; Balloon Fest gate volunteer; crews a balloon; Salvation Army Bell Ringers Coordinator in 2011, which entailed scheduling and recruiting volunteers for eight to ten sites; Healthcare Foundation Ball Committee eight years, serving as Chairwoman for the event two years and the Auction Committee five years, including the 2014 Ball, which is the major fundraiser for the Foundation; Relay for Life Cancer Society team leader for ten years; organized a huge dealership rummage sale to raise over $1,00 each year. Team Captain of American Heart Association; coached various softball teams; just to name a few.

Elisha is in charge of Marketing and PR for Monkens’ two dealerships. A member of the National Honor Society at Wayne City High School, Elisha is a graduate of Rend Lake College as well as Illinois University where she received marketing and business administration degrees in 1992. She has received the American Red Cross Blood Services Top Recruiter Award consistently and the American Red Cross Circle of Excellence ten times.